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			{{short description\|Conceptual country founded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono}}
	]
			{{other uses}}
⚫	On April ~~Fool's Day~~ 1973, ~~John~~ and ~~Yoko~~ introduced the conceptual country of Nutopia at a press conference in New York City.<ref>Toy, Vivian S. "A Brush With a Beatle," ''New York Times.'' March 7, 2010.</ref>

			'''Nutopia''' is a ] country, sometimes referred to as a ],<ref name=":1">{{cite book\|title=Micronations\|author=John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars\|publisher=]\|year=2006\|isbn=1-74104-730-7\|page=127}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Bannister \|first=Matthew \|date=2021 \|title="And the world will be as one" – John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Nutopia \|url=http://www.transformationsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Trans35_06_Bannister.pdf \|journal=Transformations \|volume=35 \|pages=89–103}}</ref> founded by ] and ]. One of the reasons that the country was founded was to address Lennon's then-ongoing immigration problems (the previous week he received a deportation order)<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-deportation-order/\|title=When John Lennon Was Ordered to Leave U.S. by Authorities\|last=Swanson\|first=Dave\|website=Ultimate Classic Rock\|date=23 March 2016 \|language=en\|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref> through ] means.
⚫	~~The~~ ~~Lennons~~ ~~were~~ ambassadors of the country and sought ~~(creatively, though unsuccessfully)~~ ] to end Lennon's ongoing ] troubles, as he and Ono tried to remain in the United States. (Ono already had a Resident Alien "]" through her previous husband, Tony Cox. Lennon had been denied permanent residence status.) ~~John~~ talked about the imaginary country, which would live up to the ideals of his ~~song~~ "]", saying this in the "official" declaration:

			As of April 2024, individuals have been able to declare their citizenship of Nutopia via a website. The call to join Nutopia was made through Yoko Ono’s account on X (formerly Twitter) and others.<ref>https://twitter.com/yokoono/status/1775161269164843276 {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/CitizenNutopia {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref>

			There is no leadership and not all citizenships have been recorded. As a result, the population is unknown.

			Nutopia is a ] of "new" and "]" which suggests Nutopia is a new, utopian society.{{citation needed\|date=February 2020}} There is also the word play with "nut" (slang word for an insane person) and "utopia".<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sierra i Fabra \|first=Jordi \|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/179897424 \|title=John Lennon \|date=1990 \|publisher=Empúries \|isbn=84-7596-253-X \|edition=1st \|location=Barcelona \|pages=122 \|language=ca \|oclc=179897424}}</ref>

			==History==
			]
		⚫	On 2 April 1973 Lennon and Ono introduced the conceptual country of Nutopia at a press conference in ].<ref>Toy, Vivian S. "A Brush With a Beatle," ''New York Times.'' March 7, 2010.</ref>

		⚫	Lennon and Ono declared themselves ambassadors of the country and sought ] to end Lennon's ongoing ] troubles as he and Ono tried to remain in the United States. (Ono already had a Resident Alien "]" through her previous husband, ]. Lennon had been denied permanent residence status.) Lennon talked about the imaginary country, which would live up to the ideals of his songs "]" and "]", saying this in the "official" declaration, signed the day before:

	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
			We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA.<br />
	We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA. Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of NUTOPIA. NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people. NUTOPIA has no laws other than cosmic. All people of NUTOPIA are ambassadors of the country. As two ambassadors of NUTOPIA, we ask for diplomatic immunity and recognition in the United Nations of our country and its people.<ref> at .</ref>
			Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of NUTOPIA.<br />
			NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people.<br />
			NUTOPIA has no laws other than cosmic. <br />
			All people of NUTOPIA are ambassadors of the country.<br />
			As two ambassadors of NUTOPIA, we ask for diplomatic immunity and recognition in the United Nations of our country and its people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news\|url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/1973/04/01/john-lennon-yoko-ono-write-declaration-of-nutopia/\|title=John Lennon and Yoko Ono write the Declaration of Nutopia\|date=1973-04-01\|website=The Beatles Bible\|language=en-GB\|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://twitter.com/johnlennon/status/980473627303927810\|title=We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA.\|date=2018-04-01\|website=Lennon Twitter account\|language=en\|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

			The Nutopian Embassy was originally located at 1 White Street in the Tribeca neighborhood of ] which was the apartment address for some their friends and staff (Ken Dewey, Jon Hendricks, Patty Oldenburg and Helen Seaman) and headquarters of the National Committee for John and Yoko, set up to help their immigration case.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.abebooks.com/Archive-Petition-Stop-Deportation-John-Yoko/31672542045/bd\|title=Petition to Stop the Deportation of John and Yoko.\|date=2024-04-13\|website=Abe Books\|language=en\|access-date=2024-04-13}}</ref> Lennon shortly moved this embassy to their ] apartment, affixing a gold plaque engraved 'NUTOPIAN EMBASSY' to their kitchen back door. Ono remarked decades later that guests preferred walking into her home through that door instead of the front entrance.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.imaginepeace.com/archives/23831\|title=On the Day of the Birth of Nutopia – by Yoko Ono\|date=2008-04-01\|website=Yoko Ono official website\|language=en\|access-date=2008-04-01}}</ref>
	The ] ] has only one colour: ]. Some criticised this association with surrender, but Lennon and Ono defended that association, saying that only through surrender and compromise can peace be achieved. ] later adopted the Nutopian flag as a part of their live performance of the political songs from their third album, '']'', an example of this can be seen on the video version of U2's live album '']'', during the famous performance of their song "]", which, interestingly, shares the same title as a song from Lennon's album '']''.{{Citation needed\|date=September 2011}}

			==Symbols==
	The ] of Nutopia is a picture of ], a ].{{Citation needed\|date=September 2011}}
			], where Lennon and Ono posted a Nutopian Embassy sign on the back door of their apartment]]
			The ] of Nutopia has only one colour: ]. At the press conference Lennon, waving a white handkerchief, stated, "This is the flag of Nutopia—we surrender, to peace and to love". According to a reporter for '']'', Lennon blew his nose on the tissue.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Johnston\|first=Laurie\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/03/archives/lennon-sees-a-wide-impact-in-ouster-voice-not-audible.html\|title=Lennon Sees a Wide Impact in Ouster\|date=1973-04-03\|work=The New York Times\|access-date=2020-02-08\|language=en-US\|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Some criticised this association with surrender, but Lennon and Ono defended the association, saying that only through surrender and compromise could peace be achieved.{{Citation needed\|date=February 2020}}

			Lennon's album '']'' (1973) features the "'']''", which consists of four seconds of silence.<ref name="night">{{cite book\|title=John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night\|author=Du Noyer, Paul\|pages=75–76\|year=1999\|publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press\|isbn=1560252103}}</ref>
	A plaque engraved with the words "NUTOPIAN EMBASSY" was duly installed at their home at ]. Yoko remarked that guests in her home prefer walking through that door instead of the front entrance, saying the kitchen door is the new front door.{{Citation needed\|date=September 2011}}

			The hand-drawn Great ] of Nutopia features a picture of a ] balancing a ] globe on its nose.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/yokoonoofficial/2892534193/\|title=Flickr – Photo Sharing!\|date=27 September 2008 \|access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/yokoonoofficial/2893373376/in/photostream/\|title=Flickr – Photo Sharing!\|date=27 September 2008 \|access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref>
⚫	In 2006, a Nutopia website was created that ~~forwards~~ to a site about the documentary '']'', distributed by ].<ref></ref><ref>, ], 2 September 2005.</ref>

			== Legacy ==
			Lennon's deportation order was overturned in 1975. The following year, he received his ], certifying his ].

		⚫	In 2006, a Nutopia website was created that forwarded to a site about the documentary '']'', distributed by ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.joinnutopia.com\|title=NUTOPIA\|work=joinnutopia.com\|access-date=25 April 2015\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206011358/http://www.joinnutopia.com/\|archive-date=6 February 2008}}</ref><ref>, ], 2 September 2005.</ref>

			Finnish singer-songwriter ], fan of Lennon's work, released a song called "Nutopia" on his album '']''.<ref></ref>

			In 2009 an exhibit in New York displayed the letter that established Nutopia.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Pilkington\|first=Ed\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/12/john-lennon-exhibit-new-york-yoko-ono\|title=John Lennon exhibit opens at the New York annex of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.\|date=2009-05-12\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=2020-02-08\|language=en-GB\|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	]
			==External links==
			* A conceptual road to Nutopia

			{{John Lennon}}
			{{Yoko Ono}}
			{{Micronations}}

			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 12:01, 10 September 2024

Conceptual country founded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono For other uses, see Nutopia (disambiguation).

Nutopia is a conceptual country, sometimes referred to as a micronation, founded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. One of the reasons that the country was founded was to address Lennon's then-ongoing immigration problems (the previous week he received a deportation order) through satirical means.

As of April 2024, individuals have been able to declare their citizenship of Nutopia via a website. The call to join Nutopia was made through Yoko Ono’s account on X (formerly Twitter) and others.

There is no leadership and not all citizenships have been recorded. As a result, the population is unknown.

Nutopia is a portmanteau of "new" and "utopia" which suggests Nutopia is a new, utopian society. There is also the word play with "nut" (slang word for an insane person) and "utopia".

History

On 2 April 1973 Lennon and Ono introduced the conceptual country of Nutopia at a press conference in New York City.

Lennon and Ono declared themselves ambassadors of the country and sought diplomatic immunity to end Lennon's ongoing immigration troubles as he and Ono tried to remain in the United States. (Ono already had a Resident Alien "green card" through her previous husband, Tony Cox. Lennon had been denied permanent residence status.) Lennon talked about the imaginary country, which would live up to the ideals of his songs "Imagine" and "Mind Games", saying this in the "official" declaration, signed the day before:

We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA.
Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of NUTOPIA.
NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people.
NUTOPIA has no laws other than cosmic.
All people of NUTOPIA are ambassadors of the country.
As two ambassadors of NUTOPIA, we ask for diplomatic immunity and recognition in the United Nations of our country and its people.

The Nutopian Embassy was originally located at 1 White Street in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan which was the apartment address for some their friends and staff (Ken Dewey, Jon Hendricks, Patty Oldenburg and Helen Seaman) and headquarters of the National Committee for John and Yoko, set up to help their immigration case. Lennon shortly moved this embassy to their Dakota apartment, affixing a gold plaque engraved 'NUTOPIAN EMBASSY' to their kitchen back door. Ono remarked decades later that guests preferred walking into her home through that door instead of the front entrance.

Symbols

The entrance to the Dakota building, where Lennon and Ono posted a Nutopian Embassy sign on the back door of their apartment

The flag of Nutopia has only one colour: white. At the press conference Lennon, waving a white handkerchief, stated, "This is the flag of Nutopia—we surrender, to peace and to love". According to a reporter for The New York Times, Lennon blew his nose on the tissue. Some criticised this association with surrender, but Lennon and Ono defended the association, saying that only through surrender and compromise could peace be achieved.

Lennon's album Mind Games (1973) features the "Nutopian International Anthem", which consists of four seconds of silence.

The hand-drawn Great Seal of Nutopia features a picture of a seal balancing a yin-yang globe on its nose.

Legacy

Lennon's deportation order was overturned in 1975. The following year, he received his green card, certifying his permanent residency.

In 2006, a Nutopia website was created that forwarded to a site about the documentary The U.S. vs. John Lennon, distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment.

Finnish singer-songwriter Kari Peitsamo, fan of Lennon's work, released a song called "Nutopia" on his album I'm Down.

In 2009 an exhibit in New York displayed the letter that established Nutopia.

References

John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet. p. 127. ISBN 1-74104-730-7.
Bannister, Matthew (2021). ""And the world will be as one" – John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Nutopia" (PDF). Transformations. 35: 89–103.
Swanson, Dave (23 March 2016). "When John Lennon Was Ordered to Leave U.S. by Authorities". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
https://twitter.com/yokoono/status/1775161269164843276
https://twitter.com/CitizenNutopia
Sierra i Fabra, Jordi (1990). John Lennon (in Catalan) (1st ed.). Barcelona: Empúries. p. 122. ISBN 84-7596-253-X. OCLC 179897424.
Toy, Vivian S. "A Brush With a Beatle," New York Times. March 7, 2010.
"John Lennon and Yoko Ono write the Declaration of Nutopia". The Beatles Bible. 1973-04-01. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
"We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA". Lennon Twitter account. 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
"Petition to Stop the Deportation of John and Yoko". Abe Books. 2024-04-13. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
"On the Day of the Birth of Nutopia – by Yoko Ono". Yoko Ono official website. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
Johnston, Laurie (1973-04-03). "Lennon Sees a Wide Impact in Ouster". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
Du Noyer, Paul (1999). John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night. Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 75–76. ISBN 1560252103.
"Flickr – Photo Sharing!". 27 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
"Flickr – Photo Sharing!". 27 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
"NUTOPIA". joinnutopia.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
Lions Gate tunes in Lennon documentary, Daily Variety, 2 September 2005.
Press to go to the song.
Pilkington, Ed (2009-05-12). "John Lennon exhibit opens at the New York annex of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-02-08.

External links

Nutopianism A conceptual road to Nutopia

John Lennon

Studio albums

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Imagine Mind Games Walls and Bridges Rock 'n' Roll
with Yoko Ono	Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions Wedding Album Some Time in New York City Double Fantasy Milk and Honey

Live albums

Compilations

Hits	Shaved Fish The John Lennon Collection Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon Instant Karma: All-Time Greatest Hits Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon Power to the People: The Hits Icon
Themed	Menlove Ave. Wonsaponatime Acoustic Peace, Love & Truth
Box sets	Lennon John Lennon Anthology John Lennon Signature Box Gimme Some Truth Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes
Video	The John Lennon Video Collection Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon

Books

Films

Self-Portrait (1969)
Apotheosis (1970)
Fly (1970)
Erection (1971)
Up Your Legs Forever (1971)
Live in New York City (1972)
Imagine (1972)

Bootlegs

Associates

Fictionalised

Tributes and
memorials

Related media

v t e Micronations
List of micronations
Africa	Kalakuta Republic M'Simbati Reunion
North America	Conch Republic Eastport Fredonia Global Country of World Peace Islandia Kingdom of L'Anse-Saint-Jean Republic of Molossia Most Serene Federal Republic of Montmartre New Atlantis New Utopia North Dumpling Nova Roma Nutopia Operation Atlantis Outer Baldonia Redonda Slowjamastan Talossa Vikesland Zaqistan
South America	Glacier Republic Melchizedek Parva Domus
Antarctica	Flandrensis Westarctica
Asia	Akhzivland Freedomland Kingdom of Humanity Keraton Agung Sejagat Koneuwe Morac-Songhrati-Meads Naminara Republic Sedang Sunda Empire People's Republic of Zhongtai
Atlantic islands	Islands of Refreshment Trinidad
Europe	Aigues-Mortes Austenasia Christiania Elgaland-Vargaland Elleore Enclava Filettino Frestonia Jamtland Kugelmugel Laàs Ladonia Liberland Llanrwst Ongal Other World Kingdom Perloja Peščenica Romanov Empire Republic of Rose Island Saugeais Sealand Seborga Tavolara Užupis Vevčani Verdis Wallachia Waveland Wendland
Oceania	Aeterna Lucina Aramoana Atlantium Avram Bumbunga Coral Sea Islands EnenKio Hutt River Marlborough Minerva Murrawarri Republic Rainbow Creek Snake Hill Whangamōmona Wy Sovereign Yidindji Government
Extraterrestrial	Aerican Empire Asgardia Celestia
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