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Vermont environmental activist Bill McKibben on ‘Colbert Report’

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February 15, 2012|By Doug Most

Bill McKibben. (Russ Mezikofshy )

Bill McKibben, the Vermont climate activist, founder of 350.0rg, and focus of this Jan. 18 cover story in the Boston Globe Magazine, was subjected to a brutal takedown last night by Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert. Okay, perhaps “takedown” is a bit strong.

“You’re the clown who’s gonna make me pay five bucks a gallon for gas this summer,” Colbert said to McKibben. “Would you like to apologize?”

McKibben chuckled but refused to buckle. His 350.0rg was widely viewed as instrumental in the White House’s recent decision to not fund the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

“Thanks to you I’ve gone down from an Audi AAL to an S5,” Colbert snickered to McKibben.

He then tried to get McKibben to admit that there is nothing wrong with drilling for oil.

“Everything we’re extracting from the ground is natural!” Colbert shouted.

But his guest had a quick quip back.

“It’s all ferns and dinosaurs,” McKibben said.

“That’s what they sell at Whole Foods I think,” the host answered.