The Uniting Church urges all Australians to reflect on the horrors of nuclear weapons and calls on our political leaders to commit to total nuclear disarmament as the world remembers the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima this weekend.

The Uniting Church in Australia today urged the Federal Government to continue to oppose the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons and put pressure on countries who threaten the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) ahead of the upcoming review of the treaty in New York.

In a time of violence Australia must lead the way for peace. The Uniting Church is concerned that in response to terrorism, defence and security are becoming synonymous with the idea that violence is acceptable.

The national leader of the Uniting Church in Australia today expressed deep grief and sorrow at the announcement by Prime Minister John Howard, that he was committing Australia troops to a war in Iraq.

"We do not support people using one violent act to justify other violent acts" says a position paper released today by the National Social Responsibility and Justice agency of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm Fraser, has been asked to postpone any Government decision on the mining and export of Australian Uranium.