Certainly big money and some big industries (oil, gas, coal, nuclear, utilities, chemicals, autos, agribusiness [[and let's add specifically pharmaceuticals]]) use their control over big media and big government to paralyze attempts at concrete action.  But that's only part of the problem.  Additionally, no institutions have been set up to translate public sentiment favoring ecological sustainability into practical action (including the work of lining up all the elites and power groups, and facing down the financiers)  Green activists, accustomed solely to raising awareness, have not constructed those institutions.

          We know a strongly pro-environment scientist who works for a major utility.  He's on many committees that link industry, government, and environmentalists, and he has been bothered by this problem.  "I've worked for years trying to get all these groups to agree, and it's finally succeeding.  A lot of business who once backed off from honestly admitting the need for action are now willing to adopt the ecologists' platforms.  But you know what?  at this point, the environmental groups are backing off, scared.  They're afraid of what will happen if business just says 'You're right.  Now what?'  They seem to feel that business could just take over their positions and their movement would collapse.  I'm afraid the environmentalists are not set up to keep pushing businesses to take the next step -- because the next step involves making detailed analyses of what actual works in business practice, and making big changes in people's lifestyles.  They haven't a clue how any given industry works, they don't know how to make and sell products for a new lifestyle, and they haven't thought about how [ecological sustainability] changes the culture."

          Ecological sustainability and commerce must come together, as Green businesses often see, even thought the two have been at each other's throats for years.  A change in consciousness is needed so that "conscious commerce" can be a reality, unifying the inner and the outer.  But the ones who know how to do business are often the ones who scorn consciousness, and the ones who know how to work with consciousness avoid spreadsheets and profits.  Who can trust the businessman to be honest, or the environmentalist to be practical?  All sides must learn to build trust within a new sense of community.