I do not believe an International governing body will solve the problem. Case 1. Let's just say the US agrees to relinquish its control over the root servers. Let's just say this organization that will control the root servers is called the UN. Eventually, other countries will disagree with the UN's policies. These disagreeing countries will most likely come to the conclusion that they reserve the right to be able to control the network in their respective countries in entirety. What I think we will see is goverments setting up their own national root servers agreeing to issue ip addresse ranges alloted to them by the UN. Case 2: More realistic. Basically, the world is headed for the ultimate outcome of case 1. But a more realistic approach I think we will see is that the US will not relinquish control. Other countries disagreeing with this policy will setup up their own collective networks or ultimately separate like in case 1. However, collective sub-international networks will be subject to case 1 eventually. Basically, in the end. Each country will control their own root servers and network. Poor countries who cannot afford the technology will have to rely on agreements with other countries to run their root servers for them. International bridges will allow for cross network communication, just like subnets. This is my opinion and belief.

Part of it? Sure. But we are the dominant species. The fact that we're sitting here posting about management of other species on the internet should at least help to demonstrate that. (that is, unless monkeys have a highly evolved method of electronic communication we're unaware of - oh, so that's where slashdot moderators come from ;)

Seriously - to think that we're the only species that would wipe out another because we eat them, or because we build houses, or develop ranchland...is absurd. As long as food is available, some animals will eat until they die.

My point is, if humans were to vacate the planet today and leave the other animals to their own devices, there would still be extinctions. I don't think we should totally disregard responsible behavior and go killing every animal in sight, but I think a little thought is in order when we're paranoid about a species of fly vanishing from our world forever.

After all, if it evolved from something, won't it eventually come back (and no, I'm not a foe of evolution)?