Christopher was still pursuing a herding lifestyle but was now heavily armed himself. Esther had left her nomadic roots behind and was now farming a small plot of land, the earnings from which she invested in a microcredit scheme. If she makes enough profit she will buy a desk for Erdo so that he can return to her and go to the local school. Until then, Erdo continues to live separately, travelling many kilometres to a Korean Missionary school where he has begun his education. The Earth Summit was supposed to help show the way for countries like China to develop in less damaging ways but pollution levels are still sky-high.
China burns more coal than any other country in the world.
This means that in industrial cities like Guangzhou, Kay Kay and her generation are six times more likely to develop lung cancer than her counterparts living in the cleaner air of the countryside. China's race to industrialise may have economically transformed the lives of those living in her major cities but the environmental and social cost is high. China's 'one child per family' lawmeans that Kay Kay's parents can spend more of their earnings on their daughter, but life in Guangzhou is still hard for Kay Kay. Although her parents earn more than ever before they must work long hours to get it. As a result, Kay Kay spends much of her family life alone.