JOURN AL Contents 2 EDITORIAL Nations DGC NGO Civil Society Goal # 14: Life Below Water Conference Conservation of Oceans DOLLY DASTOOR ◆ BioData 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 75 IN THE NEWS HOMI GANDHI ◆ Rad-Aid Volunteer Expedition To Nepal 96 PERSONAL PROFILE 4 FEZANA UPDATES ◆ FEZANA Supports ,5,8,9,10 11 33 HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES SDG goals of United Nations FEZANA Journal AROUND THE WORLD Vol 33, No 4 ISSN 1068-2376 Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor edItor(@)fezana.org Graphic & Layout: Shahrokh Khanizadeh www.khanizadeh.info 98 BETWEEN THE COVERS Technical Assistant: Coomie Gazdar Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse lmalphonse(@)gmail.com ◆ Bringing Joy Into The Lives Language Editor: Of Disadvantaged Adults In Douglas Lange Orlando A Monthly “Behram Roj” Deenaz Coachbuilder Outreach By Dinyar Mehta And Community Volunteers Cover Design: ◆ Feroza Fitch The Hospital and Rehabilitation ◆ Center for Disabled Children Fezana Supports The SDG #10 ffitch(@)lexicongraphics.com Of The United Nations ◆ Publications Chair: Can Entrepreneurship Be the ◆ Solution in Creating a Model Fighting Poverty Since 1991 Behram Pastakia Adapted From WZOTF Report bpastakia(@)aol.com to Promote a Global South- South Model of Sustainable ◆ Development for the UN to Bel-Air Panchgani – A Lamp On Marketing Manager: Consider? The Pedestal Nawaz Merchant MILESTONES [email protected] ◆ th 100 ◆ A Brief Report On Panel Envirofaith At 10 World Discussion After Showcasing Assembly 102 LIST OF ASSOCIATIONS Copy Editors: HRDC In The North-South- Yasmin Pavri ◆ Lions In Sight Vahishta Canteenwalla South Sustainable Development Dialogue At The 68 th United Nazneen Khumbatta ◆ FEZANA Supports Sustainable Subscription Managers: Dilnavaz Irani (cover) with Mani Rao, Behnoosh Sethna together with over 4000 volunteers packed Arnavaz Sethna 500,000 meals for children over the span of the Conference. This project was partnered with Feeding Kershaw Khumbatta Children Everywhere,#1amFCE, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a hunger-free world Asst Subscription Manager Winter, Zemestan 1388 AY 3757 Z Farnaz Sidhwa Dae –Behman – Spendarmad 1388- AY (Fasli) Amordad – Shehrever- Meher 1389 AY (Shenshai) Shehrever – Meher – Avan 1389 AY (Kadimi) COMING SOON: SPRING 2020 UDVADA UTSAV, WZCC AGM, GWG, FEZANA SCHOLARSHIPS, PERSIAN GARDENS Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of FEZANA or members of the editorial board. All submissions to the FEZANA JOURNAL become the property of the publication and may be reproduced in any form. Published at Regal Press, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. (USPS 021-495) published quarterly by FEZANA 8615 Meadowbrook Dr., Burr Ridge, IL 60527. Periodical postage rate is paid at Oakbrook, IL 60523 and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription US $35 (US and Canada) and $80 (air) for other countries; details on subscription form. POSTMASTER: send changes to Fezana Journal, 8615 Meadowbrook Drive, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. WINTER 2019 1 Editorial DOLLY DASTOOR he Winter 2019 issue “Humanitarian TActivities Around the World” has been an eye opener as to what good Samaritans do from Albania to Zambia. They work in the hard to access hills of Satara, Maharashtra, in the rehabilitation homes of the physically challenged in Orlando, in the dangerous hills of Afghanistan to help children with disability, bringing the gift of sight, bringing compassion, healing, hope and warmth when everything seems desolate and lost, when hopes and dreams are thwarted because of your gender. What we are reporting in this issue, is just the tip of the iceberg, there are countless others in North America and around the world who do amazing work quietly without seeking fame or name. We salute all because the world needs each of us to help the other. This issue has been very ably curated by Sanaya Master, a very welcome addition to the North American diaspora from New Zealand by virtue of marriage!! It was an absolute delight to work with her, Industries, Inc. California. (details in FJ. Spring 2020) knowledgeable and responsive and responsible. You will also read the amazing story of Mobed Burzin The 68th UN DGC Civil Society Conference in Atashband of Calgary, who converted his ground level Salt Lake City, August 2019 brought many Zarthushtis basement into a dadgah, when he realized there was as participants and panelists. A panel partnered with a need felt by the community and yet nobody would WZCC, RAD-AID International and Partners Asia was come forward to finance a building. So he decided to th hosted by FEZANA on “Global North-South-South finance it himself. It was inaugurated on November 24 Model of Sustainable Development”. Grateful thanks complete with a brand new afargan made in Mumbai and to friends of HRDC c/o Eileen Moncoeur, Executive all the paraphernalia of the Alat.(page 79) Director of Partners Asia, Oakland, Cal, for designing The Zoroastrian Association to Chicago needs the exhibit. A very special thanks to Mr Bahram Soroosh to be congratulated on hosting the first Youth Project of ZAMWI for his technical assistance in modifying the Fair in November. Read about all the amazing displays posters to suit the journal specifications. and the confidence with which the youth explained their This has also been the season of celebrations projects This was followed in December, by the Career for the FEZANA member associations.The Zoroastrian Day organized by WZCC, New York Chapter (page Association of Florida celebrated their 25th anniversary, 122) the Zoroastrian Anjuman of Northern California What do we have to look forward to in 2020, celebrated their 35th anniversary. FEZANA is not only the FEZANA AGM in April/May 2020. The North growing but also solidifying its roots. There has been a American Zoroastrian Sports in Washington, June 2020, mushrooming of educational seminars sponsored by the the SSZ seminar in Toronto in Oct 2020, the North Jamshed Pavri Fund in Vancouver, BC, by the NAMC, American Congress, Houston, in December 2020. And so by SSZ and FIRES and the Zoroastrian Association of we March on to the third decade of the 21st century. Houston. All very successful with high quality speakers, I wish you all a very fruitful and fulfilling next 12 Cyrus The Great day in October was celebrated by months of 2020. the Sacramento Zoroastrian Association and by the California Zoroastrian Centre with a statue of Cyrus the Great made and sponsored by Mr Abadian of Saxton Dolly Dastoor Ph.D 2 FEZANA JOURNAL Message FROM HOMI GANDHI FEZANA Must Continue the Zoroastrian Tradition of Selfless Service ot much is prescribed for the followers of Scotland; an educator NZarathushtra, who are given the gift of Vohu Manah teaching alternate habits and asked to make righteous choices based on their own for HIV-AIDS patients free will. But in the primordial utterance ascribed to the in the West Indies; and a Ahura Mazda himself – the Ahunavar prayer – the one Zoroastrian youth collecting thing that all translations and interpretations agree upon funds online to provide food is that the blessings of Ahura Mazda fall upon those who for hungry, etc. serve their meekest brethren. For as long as we have In 2012, FEZANA existed, service with humility and sharing the fruits of supported the Zoroastrian our labor with others has been the modus operendi of all Stepping Forward initiative Zoroastrians everywhere. Philanthropy by Zoroastrian with a first Zoroastrian Day kings of yore, or Zoroastrian industrial and commercial of Service. The FEZANA empires, and wealthy individuals of today, is not touted community collected with the prefix of “Zoroastrian” because we feel that it is gently used shoes and simply the right thing to do. donated locally to homeless FEZANA is no exception to this tradition. The and women’s shelters, preamble of the FEZANA Constitution states “The orphanages, community centers, etc. to make a difference activities of this Federation shall be conducted ... with locally. due regard for the principles of GOODNESS, TRUTH, As an organization that brings together all REASON, BENEVOLENCE, IMPLICIT TRUST Zarathushtis in North America, FEZANA must not only and CHARITY towards all Mankind.” Further, one of support the humanitarian activities of Zarathushtis taking FEZANA’s stated objective is “[t]o engage in charitable place sporadically at the local level, but also organize activities as required by the Zoroastrian faith…”. more coordinated initiatives so that persons who are FEZANA member associations, committees and not able to devote time to service individually have individuals had been active in advocacy of humanitarian the opportunity to help discretely as part of a group. activities through various groups or Interfaith Undertaking humanitarian projects in a coordinated organizations even before the federation was formed. manner also allows for assistance to be delivered on And the advocacy transformed into action items as and a larger scale. The project undertaken on the First when the need arose. These practices were furthered by Zoroastrian Day of Service in 2012 was one such the formation of FEZANA’s Interfaith Activities and initiative. This was intended to be an annual service UN-NGO Committees. Coordinating with its member inspiring tradition, but we have yet to organize a second associations, committees and other organizations Zoroastrian Day of Service. We must not let this lapse FEZANA participated in supporting disaster relief discourage us. actions in the aftermath of earthquakes in Bam, FEZANA stands ready to provide all the support Honduras, and South Asia and floods in Louisiana, it can for humanitarian leaders who step up to take on Kerala etc. We also participated in the Socio-Economic the world’s challenges! Our youth must pick up the reins Project of providing clean drinking water to the of ZYWIB and lead the way in organizing activities and Bardipada community in India. projects that will allow us to live up to our obligations Noting that many Zoroastrians, especially the to help all of God’s creatures.