Julian Aguon Boeken

The collection features insightful non-fiction essays by a young Chamoru scholar-activist, exploring the contemporary experiences of Guam's indigenous population. Through personal narratives and cultural reflections, the author sheds light on the challenges and resilience of the Chamoru people, offering a poignant perspective on identity, activism, and the impact of colonial history on their lives.

The essays by Chamorro writer Julian Aguon shed light on the struggles faced by the Chamorro people in Guam, an unincorporated US territory. Highlighting Guam's unique status, Aguon explores the implications of its governance under the Organic Act rather than the US Constitution. The narrative emphasizes the disconnect between the island's representation by a non-voting Congressperson and the reality of its administration by the Office of Insular Affairs, aiming to raise awareness about the challenges and identity of the Chamorro community.

Micronesia represents a critical crossroads for humanity, embodying communal living and sustainable practices that stand in stark contrast to global consumerism. As the region faces the threat of cultural erosion, the survival of its interconnected way of life is essential for the future of sustainable humanity. The book emphasizes the importance of preserving indigenous imagination and sustainable living, arguing that the loss of these values could signal a dire future for all people. The fate of Micronesia serves as a warning about the broader implications of cultural homogenization.

'A powerful, beautiful book. Its fierce love - of the land, the ocean, the elders and the ancestors - warms the heart and moves the spirit.' - Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple Part memoir, part manifesto, Chamorro climate activist Julian Aguon's No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies is a coming-of-age story and a call for justice-for everyone, but in particular, for Indigenous peoples. Aguon beautifully weaves together stories from his childhood in the villages of Guam with searing political commentary about matters ranging from nuclear weapons to global warming. Bearing witness and reckoning with the challenges of truth-telling in an era of rampant obfuscation, he culls from his own life experiences to illuminate a collective path out of the darkness. A powerful and bold new voice writing at the intersection of Indigenous rights and environmental justice, Aguon is entrenched in the struggles of the people of the Pacific who are fighting to liberate themselves from colonial rule, defend their sacred sites and obtain justice for generations of harm. In No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies, Aguon shares his wisdom and reflections on love, grief, joy and triumph, and extends an offer to join him in a hard-earned hope for a better world.

Part memoir, part manifesto, The Properties of Perpetual Light is a collection of soulful ruminations about love, loss, struggle, resilience, and power--a coming-of-age story and a call for justice.

Eine charismatische Stimme der ozeanischen Welt – und ein Weckruf an die Menschheit Julian Aguon schreibt von einem Teil der Erde, der aus der Perspektive des Westens meist nur im Kontext geopolitischer Strategien vorkommt: Guam ist ein Hoheitsgebiet der USA, die es vor allem als Militärbasis nutzen. Und es gehört zu Mikronesien – Tausenden pazifischen Inseln, die davon bedroht sind, in den kommenden Jahrzehnten vom Ozean verschluckt zu werden. An diesem Ort zeigt sich, wie verbunden Kolonialismus und Klimawandel wirken, doch das Guam von Julian Aguon ist auch eine Welt alter Überlieferungen, verwurzelter Gemeinschaft und einzigartiger Schönheit. Wir brauchen neue Geschichten, schreibt Aguon – „Geschichten über unsere kleinen Ecken der Welt, geschrieben aus Liebe.“ Als Rechtsanwalt und Aktivist kämpft er um Gerechtigkeit für die indigenen Menschen in seiner Heimat und anderswo. In seinem Buch öffnet Aguon uns die Augen für das, was wir verlernt haben zu beachten – in der Welt und in uns selbst. Und er legt Zeugnis ab von den Verlusten und der Schönheit Ozeaniens: mit dem Charisma eines Freiheitskämpfers und der Stimme eines Dichters.