#SpartacusReport Day 2

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful.

For the first time, we broke through and really found our voice. We trended No.1 on Twitter and kept trending at 2 throughout the day. The support from celebrities and journalists and other bloggers was humbling.

Today, we have a chance to really explain our issues, but despite our desperation and fear we MUST remember that our issues are new to most people. We must trust that the report has it's own strength.

It is backed by Disability Alliance, representing over 380 charities. Scope, Mind, RNIB, Sense, National Autistic Society, ME Action, Papworth Trust and many, many more endorse our report and share its concerns.

Politicans are supporting us. Lords are supporting us. We must give them every chance to hear our evidence and act on it.

The report raises some very serious issues and it is those issues we must explain.

Today, we ask anyone who read and was shocked by the #spartacusreport to wear this twibbon http://twibbon.com/join/spartacusreport and stand with the sick and disabled people of the UK have fought so very hard for this one chance to be heard. We only have a few more days. Lords return tomorrow and the issues we have raised for so long will face votes. If we work together, no matter how exhausted we are, no matter how frightened, we can say we did all we could to make our arguments eloquently, reasonably and most importantly - based on evidence. Evidence that has been painfully lacking in this debate so far.

Can we show today that we are an electorate? That we can be seen, that we can be heard. Every twibbon is a "vote" for the #spartacusreport

If you are sick and disabled wear the twibbon. If you realise that one day, at any moment, you too could face illness or disability and that our fight is your fight, please wear the
twibbon. If you are concerned at the lack of rigour and openness of our government, please wear the twibbon. If you want us to be heard, wear the twibbon.

Keep tweeting, keep sharing and trust that if we work together, we can be heard. Sick and Disabled people can speak for themselves and for the first time, the #spartacusreport allows us to do that. Take this opportunity, take this platform and use it wisely.

I am Spartacus, and I will keep trying everything I can to protect our futures.

Edited by Lisa to add: Kaliya's video...



Transcript below jump taken from http://benefitscroungingscum.blogspot.com/2012/01/message-from-kaliya-and-sue.html



[Kaliya's voice is still very hoarse]

Yesterday we launched the report 'Responsible Reform' known online as the Spartacus Report.

It's been produced entirely by very sick and disabled people and the authors and coordinators of the report have reached the limit of what we can do now.

Sue Marsh's husband has put his foot down and will be taking her to hospital this afternooon. If I don't stop, I'll be following her there.

We're asking you to put your faith in the quality of the research in the Responsible Reform report.

It speaks for itself and does the job for us. So please, look to the evidence...

[catches her breath]

...and try to carry on until we can come back

[ends]