Overview
- Participating by videoconference from London, Loach received the honorary doctorate in philosophical sciences as Rector Giovanni Molari conferred the degree.
- He opened his lectio magistralis by calling the present a dangerous moment marked by worker exploitation, vanishing contracts and widespread poverty.
- Loach said inequality is driving anger among young people and asserted that the far right has returned using tactics reminiscent of fascism.
- On foreign policy, he accused Western governments of tolerating illegality and condemned the UK for sending weapons to a government he said is committing genocide in Palestine.
- He called a minimum wage a good but insufficient measure, expressed hope in a new generation exemplified by Zorhan Mamdani, urged universities and artists to act in solidarity, and warned about climate denial encapsulated by the slogan “Drill, baby, drill.”