Timing

[Ellen Omohundro <elomo@mail.wsu.edu>]

Forgive me if this is redundant, but a key component of
distributing information is the time period between when we have
knowledge about something and when that knowledge is shared.  For
example, waiting to communicate health hazards associated with an
open pit uranium mine until 20 years after it was abandoned (and
this is a real case) tends to promote nothing but apathy.  It's
not that people aren't interested or don't care, but rather the
delayed sharing of information makes them think no one cares
about them and that any actions they might take would be
fruitless.  There is a direct link here with public involvement.
 By not involving the community or informing them of
behind-the-scenes activities for 20 years, they have little
reason to trust information that is shared.  Actions tend to
speak louder than words.