UK's Only STI Dating Site Aims to Reduce its Carbon Footprint With Treeflights

DatePositive.Net, the STI dating site have partnered with Treeflights who plant trees to absorb carbon to take responsibility for their CO2 emissions.

Cardiff, Wales (PRWEB) March 23, 2008 -- The UK's only STI dating and friendship website is taking a small step towards reducing its carbon footprint by contributing towards Treeflights, a carbon offset company in Wales.

http://www.datepositive.net will this year donate £150 to Treeflights, which plants trees in Wales and Peru.

Treeflights (http://www.treeflights.com) was established in 2006 by Ru Hartwell to give people the chance to compensate for the environmentally destructive effects of their flights.

Located in the Cambrian mountains of Mid-Wales, Treeflights came to life from Ru's personal aspirations. "I've been trying to reduce my carbon footprint for ages and have been planting trees specifically to absorb CO2 for over 10 years," he explained.

The carbon offset firm's primary focus is on gaining support from people who fly and travel organizations. But the firm is also attracting contributions from other organizations that want to reduce their carbon footprint.

Sheelagh Caygill, one of the people involved in Date Positive, said: "I think it's really important that both individuals and businesses be accountable for their carbon footprint. It's something that I, personally, am committed to and I am sure many of our website's members will want it also."

Sheelagh has been aware of Treeflights for some time and has written about the company on her blog, http://www.blogeclectic.com. "With the development of http://www.datepositive.net, we decided as a new company that we want to support carbon offset plans.

"We know that in the big scheme of things £150 isn't a lot of money, but it will buy 15 trees. Half will be planted in Wales and half in Peru where the biggest impact can be had," she said. "As Date Positive grows and eventually produces a profit, we will be able to increase our annual contribution to Treeflights."

The Peru project is taking place in the Amazon in co-operation with the Ashaninka community of Cutivireni. It is being co-ordinated by Ecotribal (http://www.ecotribal.com), a UK-based organisation that collaborates with indigenous peoples to provide them with an income from sustainable products.

Date Positive began in late 2006 after one of Sheelagh's friends learned she had an STI and didn't know how she would meet a new partner. She also wanted to find new friends with the same kind of experience to gain support and feel less isolated. She searched the Internet and discovered that all the dating and friendship websites for people with STDs, including AIDS and HIV, were based in North America.

Date Positive re-launched in February this year with upgraded software and is now beginning a marketing campaign. It has more than 2500 members and a Google sponsored ad campaign is attracting more than 300 new members a month.

"Clearly there is a need for a service like ours. One of the things I've discovered since being involved in this is that there is still a real stigma attached to having an STI. At times people are judged by their family and friends and, in extreme circumstances, disowned," said Sheelagh. "This website offers a safe and secure way for people with STIs to meet new people without judgement or criticism."

The website, which also offers health information, hopes to contribute money towards support organizations and counseling services for people with STIs.

At the time of the site's launch in 2006 Dr Abayomi Opaneye, aconsultant in genito-urinary medicine at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, said: "I think it is a great idea. STDs caused by viruses can lead to difficulties, including psychological problems. A few of my patients with genital warts have said they have problems dating."

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