The Colbert Report Season 5 Episode 130 Colin Beavan
- October 8, 2009
In season 5 episode 130 of The Colbert Report, host Stephen Colbert welcomes Colin Beavan as his guest. Beavan is an author and environmental activist who gained prominence for his year-long experiment of living a zero-waste lifestyle in New York City, which was chronicled in his book "No Impact Man."
The episode begins with Colbert introducing Beavan and jokingly suggesting that the only way he can truly achieve zero waste is by not appearing on the show. Beavan responds by laughing and explaining that he is not perfect and that his experiment was not about being perfect but about trying to live more sustainably.
The conversation then turns to Beavan's book and his experience living with his family in a small apartment in New York City without producing any waste. Colbert questions the practicality of this lifestyle and asks Beavan how he managed to live without producing any trash. Beavan explains that he had to be more mindful of the products that he consumed and found alternative ways to dispose of them, such as composting.
The discussion then shifts to the broader issue of environmentalism, and Colbert asks Beavan if he believes that individuals can make a difference in the face of larger environmental problems such as climate change. Beavan responds by saying that individual actions can have an impact, but that systemic change is also necessary. He argues that the government needs to take action to address climate change and that individuals can play a role in pressuring politicians to take action.
Throughout the episode, Colbert and Beavan engage in a lighthearted and humorous conversation, with Colbert playing his typical role of a conservative, right-wing pundit who challenges Beavan's environmentalist views. However, despite the humor, the conversation is informative and highlights the importance of individuals taking action to address environmental concerns.
Overall, season 5 episode 130 of The Colbert Report is an engaging and informative conversation between Stephen Colbert and Colin Beavan about the environment and sustainability. The conversation is both humorous and serious, and highlights the importance of individual actions in creating systemic change.