Lisa Ling visits UT from Stephen Townsend on Vimeo. (Length: 1:53)

Former Channel One news anchor and current National Geographic correspondent Lisa Ling spoke about worldly issues, such as China's one-child policy, at UT's Cox Auditorium Monday night. The event was co-sponsored by the Asian American Association, Issues Committee and Central Programming Council.

Ling shared her past work with the daytime talk show "The View," her former career with Channel One and her coverage on numerous international experiences including gang rape in the Congo, shattered post-war life in the Middle East and drug wars in Colombia.  

"I have just had the opportunity in the last few years to cover so many stories in the world that have just been so profoundly important to me and have just effect me in a tremendous way," Ling said.

"I started to get into this business about 20 years ago," she said. "I always dreamt of pursuing a career in television, because TV was my favorite thing. It was always on in my house."

Attributing the birth of her true journalistic passion to a group of boys in Afghanistan, Ling shared a story that changed her life.

If you asked them how old they were they didn't know, but if you asked them how to operate a bazooka, they know.
-Lisa Ling on meeting a group of boys in Afghanistan

 "I did work with Red Cross in Afghanistan," she said. "When I am descending off the steps of that Red Cross plane, I see utter shock."

Ling says that upon arrival, her plane was surrounded by young boys armed with weapons larger than the children themselves. 

"If you asked them how old they were they didn't know," she said. "but if you asked them how to operate a bazooka, they know."

Ling strives to promote awareness of international crises, hoping that awareness will lead to action.

"There are fascinating stories happening all over the world, outside our comfort zone," she said. One such topic is the one-child policy in China.

"I have been covering China for more than a decade," she said. "Thousands and thousands of baby girls are abandoned because of the one-child policy."

China's one-child policy only allows Chinese families to have one biological child. Social and economic benefits push families to try and produce a son. Because of this, many baby girls are abandoned because of their sex.

"There is devastation with mothers giving away their baby girls," she said. She explained that the abandonment of the girls isn't because of pure choice, rather the loss of economic benefits the family must endure by not having a son.

Ling spoke about her work with The Oprah Show, which has sent her around the globe covering international crises ignored by major news syndicates. Ling commended Oprah seeking out international issues that offer useful information to Americans.

"Americans are hungry to know what is going on in the world," she said. "Our news networks are poor examples of resources."

UT student Darren Jett said that the lecture "offered a great opportunity for students to hear about important worldly issues."

Jett said that Ling was an incredible orator and offered insight that escapes Americans.

"I would like to see Lisa Ling again, here at UT," he said. "I was captivated by her stories and her passion for what she does shows through her lectures. It fascinates me."