VIDEO: A visit to the Halloween Rally for Climate Action in Charleston WV, on Oct. 30, 2021

A close-up encounter with the Halloween Rally for Climate Action on Oct. 30, 2021 in Charleston WV

Experience the Halloween Rally for Climate Action, sponsored by the WV Climate Alliance, which took place Oct. 30, 2021, on the plaza of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Building in downtown Charleston. WV. The rally's messaging was directed at WV Sen. Joe Manchin, urging him to stand behind climate legislation and funding proposed by the Biden Administration. "The age of fossil fuels is coming to an end," renowned climatologist Michael E. Mann told the rally in virtual address. "It's still time for us to make the right choices so that we don't mortgage this planet. But we have to act now! This is a moment of consequences when it comes to the climate crisis. And we have to rise to that moment. We have to meet that moment, with meaningful action.

DIRECT YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/r6Cm_1xJ99Y

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TRANSCRIPT of HALLOWEEN RALLY for CLIMATE ACTION VIDEO | Charleston, W.Va., Oct. 30, 20201

Here is a transcript  of a video of the WV Climate Alliance Halloween Rally for Climate Action which took place Oct. 30, 2021, on the plaza of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Building in downtown Charleston. WV. The rally's messaging was directed at WV Sen. Joe Manchin, urging him to stand behind climate legislation and funding proposed by the Biden Administration. 

MORGAN KING, WV RIVERS COALITION: 'This rally is hosted by the West Virginia Climate Alliance. We are so glad you joined us this afternoon on this dreary afternoon ...'

SPIKE YEE and PROPER: ''Tell me what's with all the hate. Hey! Hey! Why can't we all be really great? Hey! Hey! Why can't we learn from our mistakes?

ANGIE ROSSER, DIRECTOR of WV RIVERS COALITION: "It really has dawned on me how historical this moment is. And the fact that we are all standing together, really guiding history ..."

HANNAH KING: "I'm here today to support climate action, and to hopefully send a good message to Senator Manchin to get him to vote for policies that would benefit West Virginia. 

"This is about our future here. You know, I feel like a lot of the energy sectors regarding coal has been on the backs of West Virginians,  and we're dead last and so many things we need.  We need better infrastructure, we need jobs. We need our young people to stay here. 

"And I want to stay here. My friends want to stay here. But without solid climate policies and without better opportunities, we just won't have that."

MICHAEL E. MANN, CLIMATOLOGIST: "We need this current bill, this current Build Back Better bill to pass the Senate with the climate provisions intact. And we need every single Democratic senator —  including you, Joe Manchin — voting for it."

SAVANNAH LUSK: "Five years ago, I didn't really understand climate change.  I thought that if it existed, then it was probably, you know,  going to be the natural progression of things.  And you know, a couple of my friends educated me on how corporations and policy influence influence pollution and influence this progression of climate change. And how we as people have directly accelerated it at an alarming rate." 

CROWD: "We want climate action! Come on Joe! Make it so!"

THE REV. RON ENGLISH, DIRECTOR, NAACP CHAPTER, CHARLESTON WV: "In times of decisive action, as this, cowardice asks: 'Is it safe?' Vanity asks: 'Is it popular?' Politics asks: 'Is it expedient?' But conscience asks: 'Is it right?'"

JOE BOLTE: "The climate is getting warmer and that has a lot of terrible effects. It changes the weather.  And that contributes to increased flooding here in West Virginia and a whole bunch of other deadly effects around the world. So that's going to affect everyone,  whether you believe in it or not. It's going to do an incredible amount of damage to West Virginia, and communities around the globe. 

"And we're asking for our elected leaders, to change the politics. To change the options that we have, so that everyone can live a cleaner and healthier lifestyle. 

RON SOWELL, SINGER-SONGWRITER: "Hey, Joe! It's getting warm .../ Hurricanes. Floods. And fires are blazing...."

KATE LEARY: "I think a lot of the issues that people are concerned about are all kind of interrelated. If you're worried about the economy, or you're worried about inequality, all of that is going to be impacted by changing patterns of weather. And these climate impacts that are gonna fall harder on vulnerable communities. 

"So, I think by addressing climate, we can address a lot of the other issues as well. And those things are all kind of connected."

ANGIE ROSSER: "The first goal is to get this message to Joe Manchin. If you haven't texted yet, we need you to text. We need you to go sign a postcard.  Get signed up for some prizes later."

REV. JEFF ALLEN, DIRECTOR, WV COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: "We dream of restored communities. We dream of employment with a living wage. We dream of healthy children with bright futures. We dream of a future for Appalachia.

"You know, I grew up in West Virginia. I mean, it wasn't uncommon for us guys and neighborhood to go down and play in the local stream.To climb the hills ... So, I think you know, like all West Virginians, I have a very intimate connection with the land. with the hills. 

"And, you know, I really care about West Virginia and the earth, in general."

GARY ZUCKETT:, DIRECTOR, WV CITIZEN ACTION GROUP: "Addressing climate change is also an economic opportunity, because it will create a lot of new jobs. It will create new areas of the economy that will thrive. So,  this is a win-win situation. 

"It's not like we have to fall on our sword to fix the climate. Helping to address climate change will help our economy, will help people that are struggling to find work. And so we think it's a win-win."

JOE MANCHIN (pre-recorded voice on office telephone): "If you have reached this message during this time all lines are currently busy. Please leave your name, address, phone number and a brief message  And a member of my staff will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you!”

 CROWD:”We want climate action! Come on, Joe! Make it so!"