Can the economy and the environment be friends?

This whole environment versus the economy debate is getting a bit old. I remember thinking in university that everyone who does an environmental studies degree should also be required to do a degree in commerce (or at least a substantial number of courses), and that the same should be true for those studying business, economics or commerce. They should have to a double major or minor in environmental studies. Because what is the economy without the environment? And the reality of the world is that we still need to function under the current economic system, and business is running the show. So despite significantly differing worldviews the bottom line is that the economy and the environment exist hand in hand, and should not be siloized and then pitted against each other.

Owners of the lodge giving a presentation

Samkelo, the commerce student, MC'ing our final presentation

One of the boys that I am working with at the local school here made me so happy the other day.  He was on a field trip that I had organized for them to the eco-lodge and we had just finished listening to a presentation by one of the owners about the importance of eco-tourism and what sort of environmental initiatives were happening at the lodge.  This one boy put up his hand to ask a question at the end, but gave more of a thank you speech, saying that he was so happy with the work they were doing, and that they should keep it up and that it was such important work.  It was so touching and such nice kudos to the lodge.  But what made me truly happy about it was that 

out of the 24 students who were there, this was one of the two youth who are in the commerce program.  I put up my hand after and said that what makes me so happy and hopeful about the future of the world is that a young boy in a commerce program can see how important the environment is and has the sentiments that he had just expressed.  If people going into commerce to become businessmen can have that sort of awareness and worldview, we are on the right track.  It was a very nice moment and a great link to some of the topics that we were looking at during the course that week.