Challenges abound in vulnerable areas

The paradox of development and environment is most obvious on the sad faces of the lead-poisoned children in central and western China and their perplexed farmer parents.

For centuries, people in underdeveloped areas have been tilling their land and patiently awaited modernization. They ignored the fact that some of the country folks were falling prey to strange diseases after returning from contaminated workshops near the coast, and some of them dying.

Now, it seems their turn might come as eastern China's industries shift westward in quest of cheaper labor and land.