There are a few properties that you can set in portal-ext.properties. Quoting with the comments on them (as they probably state the usage better than I could do myself.
Olaf's answer gives you a good start. Just place a file called portal-ext. Properties in your classpath with the content portlet.event.
Distribution=ALL. This will make sure that all portlets that care for the event will receive it, even if it is on a different page.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.