Latests news

Press Visit to ITER

A study trip for Finnish science and technology journalists to major French technology: ITER in Cadarache where the world’s largest experimental fusion energy facility is under construction. September 9–10, 2026.

Lecture on Utopian Communities in Espoo

More than one hundred people attended my lecture on Finnish utopian communities at a meeting of the Middle-Espoo Seniors. The presentation generated a lively discussion, and many participants expressed interest in reading my book Paratiiseja rakentamassa (Building Paradises), which presents the history of Finnish utopian communities around the world. Espoo, September 1, 2026.

Fieldwork in Swedish Ecovillages

Research and interviews in three Swedish ecovillages: Suderbyn, a permaculture community founded near Visby, Gotland, in 2008; Tuggelite near Karlstad, Sweden’s oldest ecovillage, founded in 1984 and organized as a housing cooperative; and Hällby near Uppsala, a housing cooperative community established in 2000. The visits included interviews, photography, and observation for my ongoing research on ecovillages and intentional communities. Sweden, August 18–24, 2026.

FFN Summer Meeting in Helsinki

The Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) summer meeting brought together around one hundred guests, including many Finnish Americans spending the summer in Finland. FFN has supported my research and data-collection trips on Finnish and Nordic utopian communities in the United States and Canada. The resulting exhibitions and my book Paratiiseja rakentamassa (Building Paradises) also attracted considerable interest among the participants. Helsinki, July 23, 2026.

Virtual & Space Utopias

Peltoniemi, Teuvo:“Virtual and Space Communities as Utopias”,pp 204–215 in: Elisabetta Di Minico & Stefano Locati eds): “The otherness within us – The (post)human condition in times of crisis. Futuri Speciale 2026. Rivista Italiana di Futures Studies. Summer 2026 Special Issue. (Peer-reviewed article).

Utopian Book review

Martti Linna: ”Idealismi ei yksin riitä maan ja veden viljan hyödyntämisessä”. Book review: Teuvo Peltoniemi: Paratiiseja rakentamassa. Martti Linnan kotisivu. kotisivukone.com/blogi/?k=EU13.3.2025.

Utopian Book review

Jorma Melleri: ”Unelma onnesta maailman laidalla”. Book review: Teuvo Peltoniemi: Paratiiseja rakentamassa. Puheenvuoro-blogi.uusisuomi.fi/jormamelleri/unelma-onnesta-maailman-laidalla/

Utopian podcast at YLE

Liisa Vihmanen’s podcast, “Finnish Utopian Communities – Towards a Better World,” based on my interview, was published in YLE Living History series.The Finnish-language podcast is available at https://areena.yle.fi/1-72758565

Health Risks of Fine Particles

Teuvo Peltoniemi: “Pienhiukkasten terveysvaarat - Näkymättömien saastuttajien jäljillä”, (“Health Risks of Fine Particles – Tracking Invisible Pollutants”) Science article based on interviews at ESOF2024, Katowice, Poland.

Book workshop in Oslo

Writers’ Workshop at the University of Oslo for the forthcoming book “Transatlantic Crossings: Nordic Experiences of Emigration and Democracy” commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian migration to America in 2025.

Utopian Book review

Nyberg, Pertti: ”Suomalaisten utopiayhteisöjen historia Suomalaiset rakensivat utopioita maailman ääriin”. Book review: Teuvo Peltoniemi: Paratiiseja rakentamassa. MTV 27.10.2024.

Book about Finnish Utopian communities published

My new Finnish language book about all the 20 Finnish Utopian communities was published by the Finnish Literature Society. “Paratiiseja rakentamassa - Suomalaisten utopiayhteisöjen” historiaa” (Building Paradises - History of Finnish Utopian Communities), 459 pages, SKS-kirjat. Helsinki 2024. ISBN: 978-951-858-550-6.

Utopian Book review

Marjo Jääskä: ”Parempaa elämää etsimässä – Kirja-arviossa sukelletaan suomalaisten utopioiden maailmaan”. Book review on: Teuvo Peltoniemi: Paratiiseja rakentamassa. Maailman Kuvalehti 3/2024.26.9.2024.

New Towards a Better World Exhibit

The new “Towards A Better World” Exhibit is in progress. It will replace the 1985 exhibit that was on display in 40 cities in nine countries during 1984–2004. The new exhibit will include also Scandinavian Utopian communities in addition to the Finnish Utopian Communities. The new exhibit will be available both as Roll-Ups and On-Line versions. The first Roll-Up part giving background and a short overview will be displayed at the Cluj-Napoca Utopian conference in Romania on 3-7 July.

New utopian article

Peltoniemi, Teuvo: Towards a Better World - Nordic and Finnish Utopian Communities. Pp. 93-100 in: Pro, Juan & Di Minicoa, Elisabetta (eds.): Comunidades intencionales - utopías concretas en la historia. UAM Ediciones, Madrid 2022.

Fukushima Press tour to Daiichi & evacuated areas

Mr Peltoniemi was in Tokyo during the Great Japan Earthquake in 2011, reporting to Finland and following the topic ever since. On 11-13 June, 2015 he revisited Japan within an international press tour and wrote several articles from the situation inside the nuclear plant and on evacuated areas.

Earlier Main Activities

For info on my main activities before 2012 please see CV and Publications in this site and more in Finnish in books: ”Paratiiseja rakentamassa - Suomalaisten utopiayhteisöjen historiaa” (2024), and in ”Terassilta tiputukseen - Puheenvuoroja päihteistä” (2009).