John Vandaele reports on the social, ecological, economic, and governance aspects of globalization. Geographically, his focus lies on the Congo and East Asia (particularly China).
From 1986 to 2003, John worked as a freelance journalist for Knack, De Morgen, and various other media outlets. He covered a wide range of international topics—including Africa, Asia, globalization, and North-South relations—as well as socio-economic and environmental issues. During this same period, he also frequently contributed to De Wereld Morgen.
For over two decades, he was closely involved with MO* as a staff journalist. John officially retired in December 2025.
He has authored several books, including Kan Congo de wereld redden? (2025), De melkboer en de geschiedenis (2023), Het recht van de rijkste (2005), De stille dood van het neoliberalisme (2007), Het mondiale uitzendkantoor (2009), and Alfabet van onze Tijd (2012).
For about a decade, John also toured Flanders with actor Vuile Mong, presenting stories about globalization and related themes. In 2010, he received the FRDO Press Prize for Sustainable Development for his report Het woud is Congo's grootste armoedebestrijder (The Forest Is Congo's Greatest Poverty Fighter).
As a pleasant and educational counterweight to his international interests, John is deeply involved with Buren van de Abdij (Neighbors of the Abbey), a neighborhood association that keeps the Saint Bavo Abbey – Ghent’s oldest building – open on Sundays, maintains beehives there, and organizes concerts and discussions. John also played a key role in founding the Ghent-based energy cooperative EnerGent.
