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4/21/2007 - Take a Survey, Plant a Tree

Online marketing research company involves millions of members in helping save the rainforest.

Toronto, ON Apr. 22 - Earth Day: Scientists estimate that what remains of the rainforest could be consumed in less than 40 years. While business is typically seen as part of the problem, an innovative marketing research company (Hotspex), today announced a new initiative that will mobilize millions of its online members to plant palm trees in the Peruvian Amazon.

This initiative, launched by Hotspex earlier this month, is in partnership with the Rainforest Conservation Fund (RCF), and aims to plant a tree for every survey taken by the Hotspex Panel of Innovators - millions of consumers who are interested in what's going on around them. The Rainforest Conservation Fund takes a different approach for conserving palm trees where the palm is planted in agro forestry systems with small farmers in their fields, in the buffer zone of the Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo (RCTT), located in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon.

"With support from Hotspex, RCF is actively conserving natural resources in the Amazon by planting palm trees that are a threatened species in the rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon," said Jim Penn, Field Director at RCF. "Thanks to the Hotspex support, we can continue to cultivate these magnificent palm trees while working to protect them in the rainforest for years to come."

Since 2000, Hotspex Innovators have taken over 2 million surveys on www.hotspex.com to voice their opinions, learn about themselves and to collect rewards. With a tree being planted for every survey completed, it is easy to see how quickly the company, with the help of its users, can make a difference.

Earth Day inspires awareness of, and appreciation for, the Earth's environment and is one of the only annual events celebrated by the entire spectrum of people across all ethnicities, religions and backgrounds throughout the world. "Hotspex Global Panels have access to over 4 million households in over 40 countries," said Shane Skillen, Hotspex President. "We hope that this initiative will inspire environmental awareness among more people, while giving them a great reason to join our panel."

Hotspex has an impressive history of supporting and being involved in environmental and social initiatives through its Charity Exchange where Hotspex Innovators are given the opportunity to convert their BUX (earned each time they complete a survey) into donations to a variety of charities. The types of donations vary: Innovators can donate their BUX to purchase bowls of rice for under-privileged people in developing countries, to stray pets that need food and medical attention, or to many other worthy charities. Through Hotspex.com, innovators can view cumulative donation totals and their own personal contributions at the end of each month.

Additionally, the company has been purchasing carbon credits through Clean Airpass as part of its policy to offset its carbon footprint on the environment. This enthusiasm for environmental consideration is driven by one of the company's core values - accountability.

"We are very excited to be involved with the RCF," added Skillen. "The tree-planting initiative is consistent with our mission of becoming the research company that everyone will want to work with."

To become a Hotspex Innovator and join us in this exciting initiative, Click Here.

For additional information on Take a Survey, Plant a Tree, contact Gera Nevolovich at Hotspex, +1.416.487.5439 ext.227

About Rainforest Conservation Fund (RCF)
RCF is a non-profit all-volunteer organization that supports ongoing projects in rainforest protection, sustainable development and environmental education. For more information, please visit: www.rainforestconservation.org

About Hotspex Inc.
Hotspex delivers provocative marketing research and innovation insights that help our clients to confidently make informed and inspired decisions. Our world class research solutions are distinguished through leading edge technology, proprietary consumer understanding methodologies and above all passionate employees that bring all this to life. For more information, please visit: www.hotspex.biz

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