International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO)

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Hamkaar - working together Moving forward together

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Aims The World’s Zarathushties cooperate effectively to bring about the renovation and healing of the world; Frashó.kéréti By advancing co-operation with • Other religious communities • Governmental Organisations and • Non-governmental Organisations

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together The building blocks needed to build INZO are the existing • women’s organisation’s • youth associations • local anjumans/associations, • national bodies/federations and • world councils / bodies / organisations

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together wouldnotwork This hierarchical structure

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together The proposed structure All connected –all independent Mobeds Youth Women INZO Regional National Local

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together UN Other religions The proposed structure All connected –all independent Not competing but complimenting each other Mobeds Youth Women INZO Regional National Local Governments NGO’S

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together INZO will help Create links within the Zarathushties worldwide Build relationships with other relevant organisations especially interfaith organisations Enable members to be involved in tackling the UN Millennium Development Goals, and other issues e.g. injustice, poverty, exclusion, climate change etc

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together All Together The one voice of the Zarathushti community through INZO (where appropriate) could enable it to move towards being an interlocutor with international faith based and secular institutions (for example, European Union, Council of Europe, World Council of Churches, Muslim Federations etc) to achieve different objectives.

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Q: Since we are members of a world body /National Federation already why is there a need to be represented by another association? Because The different world bodies have different traditions and cultures, they are hesitant to work with each other and thereby do not represent you everywhere. Each of the present “World” body is beginning to be offering a “specialist service” e.g. WZO is more and more involved in social welfare, WZCC on commerce, perhaps WAPIZ is more about Parsees and WZC Iranian They are not involved in offering one agreed voice to the international organisations and the secular world

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Their main focus is internal whereas INZO’s focus will be external. INZO is a network and thus all are equal members. Small anjumans, women and youth organisations are treated equally thus respecting the dignity of every group. Federations connect organisations within a country INZO will help connect organisations world-wide.

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Q: How does our small anjuman benefit by being member We are spread out all over the world and small everywhere, however through INZO, • You will be part of the larger whole; • You will be able to communicate and seek help and offer help from the one administrative structure; • You will be able to offer the “spirit” of Zoroastrianism beyond the community for the common good. Thereby, you will enhance the visibility of Zarathushtis all over the world and safeguard them wherever they are.

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Q: How do you define a Zarathushty organisation? For the purposes of membership the network defines a Zarathushti organisation; --is one which follows Zarathushtra’s teaching as they understand it, i.e. no one decides for another their theology, or enforces their traditions, they can be members as long as they do not bring the network or Zarathushtra into disrepute

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Q: What is the difference between this Network and the proposed world body that has failed to materialise? • the world body was seen by many as an apex body, whereas the Network is simply a linking structure with no authority over its members. • The guiding principle of INZO is, it shall have no jurisdiction over its members, who are deemed independent bodies.

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Other Concerns Raised • We are a small almost insignificant community from the world’s perspective • Parsi Irani definition has served us well for over a millennium. • opposing points of view from international community organizations will confuse and frustrate the government • Others will claim Parsi Irani property

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Other Concerns Raised 5 Enhancing visibility and safeguarding communities can be done better in each country with local contacts more effective. 6 How can INZO present a “unified picture externally” 7 Peace between religions, applies to all the other major religions of the world, but it hardly applies to us. We have lived in peace with all religions in Iran and wherever we have settled

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Other Concerns Raised 8 Small community such as ours, must look to safeguarding first our own interests which have served us well, for over a 1000 years. 9 Individual may work on global issues but we Parsis and Iranis need to work with our own people and address our needs

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Other Concerns Raised 10 Must maintain and perpetuate our Parsi Irani/Iranian Zarathushti ethnicity! Ethnicity has no values …… religion offers the moral and ethical values …. Let us be bound by these values

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together “Mans inner growth requires certain natural ingredients but above all, there has to be an astute consciousness to realize that the whole of creation is the reflected image of God.” Khojeste;. Zoroastrianism If you believe this, your organisation will be willing to work with all those involved in good deeds, irrespective of the label they carry, born Zarathushti or a convert. INZO offers the needed structure to enable you to do that.

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Q: What if some of the larger Zarathushti organisations do not join? “In Zoroastrianism, man is the focal point upon whom the whole corpus of the good religion rests. He is seen to be the prime agent through whom the theory of and practice of the religion are tested and put into action, for it is the task of man to bring about the final renovation and healing of the world….Frashó.kéréti….Hence he can either choose to be part of the fulfilment of the vision of God or he can cast himself down ………” Khojeste Mistree Zoroastrianism; an ethnic perspective

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Hence each organisation can either choose to be part of the fulfilment of the vision of God and those who wish to work together ought to do just that.

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Therefore INZO is for • Those who believe; - the task of man to bring about the final renovation and healing of the world….Frashó.kéréti…. • Those who believe; Ahura Mazda’s finest creation is the Ashavan (Man) and therefore willing to work with all Ashavans • Those who accept `Only that, which is good for anybody, whatsoever can be good for one's ownself“ Yasna43.1

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together • "If we want to have a chance of overcoming the many challenges that face us today in the fields of peace and security... we must think beyond our narrow, short-term self-interests, and raise ourselves to universal perspectives from which the well-being of the broader human community can be seen to be as important as our individual (communal) well-being," KofiAnnan

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Be part of INZO And make it work for you, your children and your grand children

International Network of Zarathushty Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Harmony through Charity If there is no harmony within a religion there will be no peace between religions Charity is not just supporting those you like but also those you are not comfortable with.

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Funding Projects By being based in different countries with access to the different organisations of youth, women, religious leaders with links to interfaith bodies, INZO can assist with fund raising not only from within the community but also from other “secular” trusts and foundations for cross-border projects

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO) Moving forward together Funding • Project funding would help with core funding needed for administration • Thereby offering opportunity for a lowmembership fee (to be agreed)

International Network of Zarathushti Organisations (INZO)