Zheng Julian, 65, Huanghui New Village.

Zheng sits on her broken kang. Eight years ago, she and her family were relocated from their village 30 miles away. The reason given was desertification. She says that the land they were given is no better than what they left behind, and says the houses built by the government for the relocated farmers are poorly constructed. “When I had to leave, I cried so much I thought I would become blind.” On the wall behind her are her grandson’s school diplomas and awards, as well as a four-year-old calendar with a picture of then Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visiting her region when he made a pledge to fight desertification.

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Zheng Julian, 65, Huanghui New Village.

Zheng sits on her broken kang. Eight years ago, she and her family were relocated from their village 30 miles away. The reason given was desertification. She says that the land they were given is no better than what they left behind, and says the houses built by the government for the relocated farmers are poorly constructed. “When I had to leave, I cried so much I thought I would become blind.” On the wall behind her are her grandson’s school diplomas and awards, as well as a four-year-old calendar with a picture of then Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visiting her region when he made a pledge to fight desertification.