WASHINGTON DC -- Possession of nuclear weapons by some countries encourages others to develop their own nuclear arsenals, according to more than two-thirds of U.S. adults in a new opinion survey.

The findings, released before tomorrow's anniversary of nuclear proliferation, when the Soviet Union successfully tested its first nuclear bomb nearly 60 years ago, suggest the world needs a broader approach for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

"Americans understand that 'Do as I say, not as I do' is advice that is falling on deaf ears," said Susan Gordon, director of the nonprofit Alliance for Nuclear Accountability. "By clinging to thousands of these weapons, the nuclear nations of the world send the wrong message and make us all less secure.

"It's up to the next president to lead the world toward a nuclear weapons-free world, as part of his strategy to stop the spread of nuclear weapons," she said.

Gordon added that a growing number of conservatives such as former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and George Schultz are now advocates of this approach. Both U.S. presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), endorse the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world.

Of those surveyed, 68 percent of U.S. adults believe possession of nuclear weapons by the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea encourages countries without nuclear weapons to develop them.

Twenty-two percent of adults said it had no impact, and 11 percent said it discouraged development.

The survey was sponsored by the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World and written and conducted by Harris Interactive(r). Survey respondents answered this question:

Nine (9) countries - the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea - currently have nuclear weapons. The major nuclear powers have attempted to persuade other nations to not develop nuclear weapons. What impact do you think the possession of nuclear weapons by these countries has on other countries that do not currently possess nuclear weapons - do you think it discourages them from developing nuclear weapons, encourages them to develop nuclear weapons, or has no impact on their developing nuclear weapons?

The Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World is a consortium of more than 80 organizations promoting practical steps today to free the world from nuclear weapons tomorrow. For details about the survey methodology or more information about the campaign, visit: http://www.nuclearweaponsfree.org.

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Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World, 322 4th St., NE, Washington, DC 20002 United States