Multimedia

Join us for our first 2022 FEZANA Talks Session, which will highlight the way in which Zoroastrianism, perhaps uniquely among the religions of the world, has placed man in harmony with nature through the doctrine of the Amesha Spentas. We will also be going over what Zoroastrians today think about environmental issues according to the landmark global survey, Gen Z and Beyond, which although in its early stages is already producing interesting results. Speakers: Dr Sarah Stewart, the SOAS Shahpoorji Pallonji Lectureship in Zoroastrianism and co-chair of the SSP Institute of Zoroastrian Studies; Moderator: Moderator Shernaz Engineer is a Fellow of the Institute of Recruitment Consultants and owns and runs Verity Appointments which places commercial and office staff and City Education which places supply teachers to schools. Shernaz is Chair of the Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce- UK Chapter which encourages entrepreneurship within the Zoroastrian Community.

Yazad C. Unwalla of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe and World Zoroastrian Organisation speaks about Zoroastrian festivals which celebrate the seasons, and how worship in this faith also involves elements of nature and their observance of keeping the earth in good order through agricultural practices.

Dr. Soroosh Sorooshian, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science at University of California, Irvine, presents an overview of the four elements that Prophet Zoroaster instructed humans to protect as they relate to the scientific elements of the earth. He then talks about climate change and introduces a variety of problems related to water and their engineered solutions. The webinar is given in both English and Farsi and is followed by a brief time for questions and answers.

Panelists Hanoz Santoke, Farzad Sunavala, and Reanna Unwalla give a thirty minute presentation on how Zoroastrian values relate to what their generation can and should do to address climate change. Drawing on values such as purity and good deeds and Zoroastrian sacred texts such as the creation story, the panelists provide the audience with religious resources and practical ways they can live more sustainably. This panel is followed by a free-flowing discussion with the audience.

In Zoroastrian culture, water is life. This video explains two water collection systems that Zoroastrians have been practicing for hundreds of years: Qanat, which are underground irrigation systems, and Tanka, which are rainwater collection and filtration systems. The speakers emphasize that ancient wisdom can be used as a response to the water crisis in India today.