Indeed, it’s a great chance for BLM to do something productive rather than insult & destroy.
But since they won’t...
“We” are doing something about it. We buy rechargeable batteries, which need cobalt, which gets money into that area and into the hands of the existentially poor. ‘tis a struggle for them now, with paltry payoff, but it’s better than nothing and sets the course for real growth & success.
There are many who note that Westerners who dive into such regions and impose high salaries & great conditions actually do an incredible _disservice_: unable to raise the bar for everyone in the region instantly, they grossly overpay by local standards, making demand for such jobs insanely high and making risks of job loss terribly painful (”sorry you lost your $15/hr job, back to making $0.15/day”), and making competing jobs untenable. There is a vital need for a natural growth of economy.
Reminds me of the old story about peace corps volunteers making a big deal out of putting in a city water pump... while some American company moves in months later and as an after thought hooks up the city to clean water...