This article struck an accord deep with my soul, as I am studying environmental sciences and sustainability.
Hence, I was contemplating about my surrounding of people in the same field as me, colleagues of mine, professors and activists working towards a more environmentally friendly world. I have had the chance for two years to live and breathe within these fields of people who are meant to me change makers, innovators, outside the box thinkers, you name it. And in a way each and every one of us is in its own way.
However, with all my affection for everyone that has come across my way working in this field, very few are eager to open up and say honestly to themselves: "We cannot solve any problems coming from the same level of consciousness, which created them on a first place."

We need, we are desperately crying for Conscious change makers.
I see lecturers working in academia, consultances, development environmental agencies etc. constantly perpetrating fast external fixes, based on using the same tools, the same view of thinking of the system itself. Why? Is it because it's easy, fast and convenient to buy into the existing status quo. Chris, when you say:

"Giving up the products in society and the way we live that seems so 'convenient', is actually no suffering at all."

I see it also as an opportunity to address - Mental structures, Believes and World views we hold on to and consider as 'convenient'. Are they indeed convenient or this is a opportunity for us to let go and invite a new creative process to come through. Why is then so difficult? Supposedly highly educated people with experience both in the academia and field world, why is it almost impossible to grasp?
Then I thought, what could it be? Why the very place where innovation and creativity is supposed to grow is the same place of rigid perpetuation of old believe systems.
And it hit me strongly. As long as we explore our minds and make the very system we wish to change more complexed by adding another mental structure to it, we will be sinking like drowning men in a sea of thoughts.

The Conscious change makers of today, need to be as much heart as they are mind guided. Deep, thorough exploration of oneself. Digging into your own personal blockages and conditionings and shifting your own consciousness.
Then I thought, why is it so hard to understand that ( inner work ) in terms of our personal ascension is as vital as our ( external work ) learning the structures and mechanism of the system? Why is science and spirituality so far from each other, when it is only around 20 cm distance between our brain and our heart? We do not need only highly educated people coming out of the universities? We need conscious intelligent beings.

How can you have revolution especially peaceful one when you are challenging outdated believes? How can you be a peaceful warrior when recovering the connection between the mind and the heart in academia? Maybe my questions have no direct answer, but I am pondering in a humble way.

blessings to all!!!
Ilina